Self Service Check-In / Out Kiosk Technology
for Hotels Booming

Ariane Systems, a leader in self-service
check-in / check-out kiosk technology for the hospitality
industry, has reported that self-service guest transactions
completed through their integrated check-in / out system for
hotels has topped the $5 billion mark worldwide.

The milestone was documented through Ariane’s
elaborate statistics module that is included with the company’s
Allegro software package, and comprises data from worldwide sales
transacted across more than 1,600 kiosks installed at hotel
properties in 20 countries globally.

The Allegro statistics module provides valuable
financial data to Ariane’s hotel clients through a
password-protected interface, including event tracking and
documentation of all guest transactions. Depending on how the
filters are applied, the system will automatically extract the
data in real time, and will allow it to be sorted by site, brand,
property type (franchisee, managed, owned), region and country. The information is then compiled into standardized charts and
graphics which represent the details behind the guest’s
self-service experience.

“Reaching $5 billion in kiosk
transactions is not only an important landmark for us as a
company, but a critical indicator of a global trend toward
increased self-service and technology-assisted services in the
hotel industry,” said Laurent Cardot, CEO of Ariane Systems. “As this trend has accelerated within other industries such as banking
and travel services, including airlines, the general consumer is becoming increasingly comfortable with how much quicker and more
convenient their everyday transactions can be utilizing
self-service solutions. We expect hotels to continue their
adoption of electronic kiosks and other advanced self-service
options, in order to maximize guest comfort and convenience, as
well as their overall operational efficiency.”

Additional data
gathered from the kiosks during the first half of 2010 indicates
that 75% of hotel guests completed their check-in process using
the Ariane self check-in / out kiosk in less than five minutes, of
which 43% in less than 2 minutes. 73% finalized their check-out(including payment) in less than 50 seconds.

A recent research
study completed by Cornell University School of Hotel
Administration’s Center for Hospitality Research examined key operational and performance indicators needed to improve hotel
guest satisfaction, presenting evidence that utilizing
self-service solutions to reduce check-in time yields a measurable
financial return on investment.

According to the report,
continuous metrics can be analyzed to determine where the optimal
break point is relative to guest satisfaction. When they examined
the amount of time required to check-in as it relates to the Guest
Satisfaction Index, they concluded that the break point was five
minutes (or less). That is, overall satisfaction was significantly
higher among guests who were able to check in within five minutes
or less, whereas overall satisfaction was significantly less among
guests who reported that their check-in time was greater than five
minutes. More than one-half of “Delighted” guests (58%) reported
checking in within five minutes, compared with less than one-third
of “Dissatisfied” guests (32%).

“For the last 12 years, Ariane
Systems’ core business has been helping hotels to improve guest
satisfaction by providing a secure, yet guest-friendly and
inviting experience through our self check in/out solution,” said Cardot. “The guest interface has been specifically designed to be
extremely intuitive, making each transaction quicker and easier
for the guest, and therefore providing increased efficiency of the
check-in and check-out process for the hotel. Our ability to track
each transaction has allowed us to continue refining our solution,
and has contributed to our rapid growth and expansion in the
market.”